Patricia tells us, "I don't think children ever should tan ... I believe that it should be something that's spoken about and now it's been rectified after I went through a year of mockery for something I never would do and did not do."

Quick recap: Patricia was arrested last year on child endangerment charges after being accused of putting her 5-year-old in a tanning booth. Patricia denied the charges from the beginning, and a grand jury opted not to indict her.

Now, Patricia -- who says she's stopped tanning since her arrest -- tells us, "It makes me sick when I go by a tanning place." She has a LOT more to say as well ... and even bashes her hometown for turning on her. You gotta watch.